DEEPER AND DEEPER. 



95 



on the farther side was more than once cut a foot wider into the 

 field than either Confidence or Cowardice had calculated ; and 

 a moment of struggling suspense added yet another grey hair 

 to locks that a score of seasons had already streaked with silver 

 and fear. But, even with the water splashing upward from 

 every furrow, the turf over which the Grand National Hunt is 

 this year to disport, was sound enough to carry a horse fairly up 

 to his jumps, and to send him easily from its surface as he rose 

 at timber or topbinder. The Melton and Oakham road was 

 jumped into and out of, close to the Cottesmore meet of Wild's 

 Lodge. The fox then bore leftward from Berry Gorse, made 

 straight for Mr. Burbage's Covert, and in so doing brought his 

 field over the Burton Brook — that will figure in the steeple- 

 chases to come. It has its full quantum of horseflesh in its- 

 waters now ; for, of the leaders who rode over or in, none 

 recked of the ford ten yards away, on the other side the 

 hedge ! (And this fact, my gay comrades, is given you gleefully 



%■ i 





m 



r 



m 



III a . 



by the one you baited unmercifully the week before, for riding- 

 at the Saltby Brook in the Belvoir gallop, when shallow water 

 was to be discovered close at hand.) This difficulty got over or 

 through, it was easy and cheery to gallop on to Burbage's 



